Ballet Victoria returns to the Denman Hall stage with a program including several short pieces in a mix of classical and contemporary works, followed in the second act by Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, highlighting the unique choreography of BV’s own Paul Destrooper.
The Rite of Spring caused a sensation when it was first performed in 1913 on May 29th at the Champs Élysées Theatre in Paris (113 years ago to the day). Stravinsky’s original score and the avant-garde nature of the choreography by Nijinsky resulted in a near-riot. Imagine a traditional classical ballet audience suddenly immersed in a performance that rivals today’s rock and roll spectacles. The score, which remains one of the most influential pieces of music of the 20th century, still holds a visceral and primal resonance with audiences.
In his rendition of the work, Destrooper strays from the original theme of a Spring celebration and the sacrifice of a young girl. Instead, one discovers nature’s primal urge to feed the circle of life, a look at humanity and its complex relationships.